Definition
Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) is a therapeutic approach that has been supported by empirical evidence. It is an effective method for treating personality disorders (PDs). This assertion is based on the comprehensive review of the article by Anchin and Pincus (2010).
Foundation and Features
Anchin and Pincus (2010) present treatment guidelines that integrate empirical evidence supporting interpersonal constructs. The foundation of IPT is formed with the merger of empirical evidence and clinical expertise. Anchin and Pincus (2010) state that the most significant expressions of personality and psychopathology occur in phenomena involving interpersonal processes. The processes are a central aspect when it comes to the effectiveness of IPT. Anchin and Pincus (2010) accentuate the substance of the therapeutic alliance in IPT. The therapist’s role is not only to offer help but also to structure the treatment based on their expertise.
A principal hallmark of IPT is the use of metacommunication. Such a state refers to instances where the therapist provides verbal feedback to the patient. Research has shown that these therapist–client metacommunicative processes help clients express immediate feelings toward the therapist and improve the therapeutic alliance. Lastly, IPT is grounded in the contemporary conception of evidence-based psychological practice (Anchin & Pincus, 2010). Research findings and patient factors are integral to this approach in clinical practices.
Importance
Leichsenring et al. (2013) stress the importance of long-term treatments for patients with chronic mental disorders or personality disorders. It is stated that short-term psychotherapy is often insufficient for these patients. Long-term treatments may be more effective for such patients. This is supported by a meta-analysis conducted by Leichsenring & Rabung (2011b), which provided evidence that Long-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (LTPP), a form of therapy that shares many principles with IPT, is effective for these patients.
Forms and Duration
Leichsenring et al. (2013) discuss the efficacy of various forms of long-term psychotherapy. These forms of therapy are primarily equivalent in terms of effect sizes, with LTPP having larger effect sizes than other treatments for general symptoms. This suggests that IPT could effectively treat general symptoms in patients with complex mental disorders.
Furthermore, Leichsenring et al. (2013) underpin the importance of considering the number of sessions conducted in long-term psychotherapy. It states that the number of sessions conducted in LTPP was about twice as high as in the comparison conditions. LTPP was found to be firmly superior in complex mental disorders compared to these shorter or less intensive forms of psychotherapy (Leichsenring et al., 2013). This insinuates that the number of sessions conducted could alter the virtue of IPT and that a higher number of sessions could lead to a more practical aftermath.
Effectiveness Factors
Firstly, the effectiveness of IPT, like any therapy, can vary significantly depending on the individual patient’s characteristics. Therefore, the general efficacy of IPT only guarantees its effectiveness in some cases. Secondly, comparing IPT to other long-term therapies in the Leichsenring et al. (2013) study does not necessarily establish IPT as superior. The study indicated that LTPP produced greater effect sizes for general symptoms compared to other treatments, but this does not necessarily mean that IPT is more effective. The two therapies share principles but are not identical.
Lastly, while the number of sessions conducted in LTPP was found to be a factor in its effectiveness, this does not automatically apply to IPT. The relationship between the number of sessions and the effectiveness of IPT requires further examination in research.
References
Anchin, J. C., & Pincus, A. L. (2010). Evidence-based interpersonal psychotherapy with personality disorders: Theory, components, and strategies. In American Psychological Association eBooks (pp. 113–166).
Leichsenring, F., Abbass, A., Luyten, P., Hilsenroth, M. J., & Rabung, S. (2013). The emerging evidence for Long-Term psychodynamic therapy. Psychodynamic Psychiatry, 41(3), 361–384.